Hostage Bride (11 page)

Seeing Raphael talking to two of his knights, Rosamunde went up to him.

‘Forgive me for disturbing you,’ she said. ‘But my women and I are ready to serve in any way we can. Give us your commands, my lord.’

‘I should have come to you when it was needful. We take necessary precautions but it may be that Baron Sigmund comes in peace,’ Raphael explained. ‘His reputation does him no credit, but if he comes to parley I shall give him fair hearing.’

‘I pray that he comes in peace, sir. We shall await your commands, but I will keep you no longer from your business,’ she said.

He hesitated, then reached out to touch her cheek. ‘Do not fear, Rosamunde. If the worst comes to pass, the castle can stand a long siege. I promise nothing will happen to you while I live.’

‘I was not afraid for myself, sir. I merely wished to do something useful,’ she told him.

‘Since the kitchen servants are needed for other tasks, your women might help prepare food and drink for the men.’

‘Thank you. We shall be glad to be of service to you,’ she said honestly.

Rosamunde returned to Elspeth. ‘For the moment we can best serve by preparing food for the men. Fetch your daughters and Maire. I shall go to the kitchens and discover what needs to be done.’

‘Yes, my lady.’ Elspeth smiled at her. ‘My daughters are both good cooks. The men will eat well this evening.’

* * *

Elspeth sent Lilia and Beth off with a bucket of good hot broth, a ladle and cups. Maire had a basket of rolls fresh from the oven; the bread was coarse and brown but it was substantial and it would fill the stomachs of the men on the ramparts. There was another bucket of broth waiting and a second basket filled with chunks of bread.

‘We shall take this to the men at the west side ourselves,’ she said to Elspeth. ‘Once the food is distributed we shall eat ourselves and then we shall warm ale and take that to the men later.’

‘We shall need to keep them supplied with drinks, for it will be a long night,’ Elspeth said. ‘If an attack comes it will surely not be before morning.’

Pleased with the results of their endeavours, the two women went out into the courtyards. The night air
was cool after the heat of the kitchen and an unnatural silence seemed to hang over the castle, as if the men were holding their breaths. Somewhere in the darkness a bird’s strange cry echoed.

When they reached the west wall, Rosamunde began the ascent of some steep steps leading up to the battlements. One of the men saw her and came down to meet her halfway, taking the heavy bucket from her.

‘This will be welcome, lady, but ‘tis heavy for you.’

‘I managed well enough,’ she said, and turned to take the basket of bread from Elspeth. ‘Go back and see if the others have returned. The men will want more food and wine soon.’

She followed the soldier up to the battlements. The moon had just that instant sailed out from behind the clouds and it was possible to see for miles around. At the moment there was no sign of anyone.

‘Will the attack come from this direction?’ she wanted to know.

‘The ascent is steep here,’ the soldier said and dipped the ladle into the bucket, pouring it into the men’s cups as they presented them. Rosamunde offered the basket and they each took a chunk of bread and thanked her. ‘If I meant to attack I would come from over there. The woods offer cover and then ‘tis but a short charge to the castle, though it would still give us time to take up the drawbridge if we had not already done so. So perhaps the best way is to come from behind us, even though it is steep.’

‘Perhaps they will not come tonight.’

‘I pray you are right, my lady,’ the soldier said and lifted his cup to drink. ‘This is very good, far tastier than we sometimes have.’

‘Elspeth’s daughters prepared it.’

The soldier nodded but continued to eat and drink in silence. The men had all taken their share of bread and soup. Rosamunde picked up the empty bucket and began to descend the stone steps that led back down to the outer bailey. She had reached the bottom when she heard a shout from above. Looking up, she saw the men had crowded to one spot on the battlements and were looking out towards the woods. From the cries and excited gesturing, she guessed that some kind of activity had been noticed.

A shiver ran down her spine. Being under siege would not be pleasant for any of them. She’d checked the stores at the back of the kitchen and knew there was sufficient food to feed them all for two to three weeks, but after that they would run short of many foods. Meat would need to be rationed and so would flour, for it was only September and the stores had not yet been ordered for the winter. Of preserves there were almost none. Raphael had brought fresh peaches and other luxuries from Normandy, but nothing had been pickled or dried for winter use, and that meant if a siege went on for too long they would starve.

Returning to the kitchen, Rosamunde found the women warming ale. More bread was being prepared for the morning and some oats had been put to soak to make porridge.

‘What is happening?’ Elspeth asked. ‘We thought we heard shouting.’

‘I think there is some activity, but for the moment I know as little as you. We must wait until someone sends to tell us what is needed,’ Rosamunde replied.

‘What shall we do if the enemy breaks through the defences?’ Lilia asked and looked frightened.

‘It will not happen,’ Rosamunde assured her. ‘Lord Mornay is an experienced soldier. He knows how to defend the castle.’

She smiled at the other girl confidently, but inside she too was suddenly anxious. Supposing the baron’s forces were too strong? They might all be killed. She might never see her father or her home again.

She pushed the thought to one side. Raphael would never let that happen. She did not know why but she had learned to trust him implicitly.

* * *

Raphael went to the ramparts to look down. A large group of armed men had gathered beneath the walls. He judged Baron Sigmund had brought perhaps twenty of his men with him, which was enough to make a statement but not sufficient to lay siege to the castle.

‘It seems he comes in peace,’ Mellors said cautiously.

‘Perhaps. This may be just the advance. We shall go carefully. Send a man out under a white flag to ask his business,’ Raphael ordered.

Even as he spoke there was a fanfare of trumpets. When it ended a knight rode up to the gates bearing a white flag.

‘My lord Baron Sigmund begs entrance. He would speak with Sir Raphael, now Lord Mornay. He comes in peace.’

‘If we let twenty men inside they could wreak havoc,’ Mellors said. ‘Give me your terms, my lord, and I shall go down.’

‘The drawbridge stays up,’ Raphael decided quickly. ‘Go out through the side gate on foot. The path is narrow across the moat and only one man may pass at a time. Baron Sigmund and five of his knights may pass, and I shall guarantee their safety, but no more.’

‘Yes, my lord.’

‘God protect you. Know that if you are foully slain we shall avenge you,’ Raphael said solemnly.

‘I have no son or wife to mourn me. I do not fear to die, my lord,’ Mellors said bravely.

‘Yet you shall not if we can prevent it. A dozen bows will be trained on them. If I sense treachery we shall fire and you must retreat swiftly,’ Raphael urged.

‘It shall be as you order, my lord.’

‘Go then, for I would know what Sigmund wants here.’

Raphael watched as his steward went back down the steps that led to the ramparts. The men and horses jostled impatiently outside but there was no attempt to bring up engines of war or attack the walls.

After a few minutes, he saw his steward emerge from the small side gate and go across the narrow walkway to the assembled soldiers. He was carrying a white flag and it seemed that his words were listened to and heard.

The talking went on for longer than Raphael liked, and he sensed that there was some anger amongst the men below, but then an agreement was reached and six of them dismounted and followed Mellors back across the narrow ridge of rock into the castle.

Raphael left his position and went steadily down to the courtyard, where he waited alone to greet the incoming party. He knew that at least a dozen bows had turned in his direction and would fire if any of the newcomers attempted to attack him.

‘This is a fine welcome,’ a deep voice boomed at him out of the darkness and a large, thickset man stepped forward. ‘I sent word of my coming and yet you close your gates against me.’

‘These are parlous times, sir,’ Raphael replied and walked towards him. Now he could see the bushy red beard and flowing locks that he’d been told of and knew it was Sigmund himself. ‘Yet if you come in peace you are welcome, sir.’

‘Your father and I quarrelled,’ Baron Sigmund said. ‘Now you are lord in his place and I would have peace between us. I came to offer my friendship despite our differences. Your father was for Prince John and I stand for the King.’

‘I have just returned from the Crusades and have no desire to quarrel with any man. If His Majesty returns to claim his throne I shall welcome him, but I take no sides until then,’ Raphael said cautiously. After all, the baron could be Prince John’s man and hiding it to try and flush Raphael’s true loyalties out.

‘You have a wise tongue for one so young,’ the baron said, gaze narrowed and wary. ‘Come, will you take my hand and accept my friendship?’

‘Friendship is something that must be earned,’ Raphael replied. ‘However, I am not your enemy, sir. My father quarrelled with his neighbours and I would live in peace with them all. If you truly wish to end your quarrel with the Mornay estate, I shall not refuse you.’

He strode towards the man, offering his hand. Baron Sigmund took it, clasping hard with both hands.

‘Come, sir,’ Raphael said. ‘May I offer you some wine and a bed for the night? You are welcome to stay with us this night, and those men you have brought to protect you, but the others must remain outside. I shall ask if there is bread and ale for them, and for you I dare say a more tasty supper may be prepared.’

‘My escort will sleep on the floor of your hall and I need only a blanket by your fire. I am a rough man, and much of what they say of me is true, but I am honest. I shall not break the truce between us, but be warned: if you betray me, I shall take my revenge,’ the other man said gruffly.

‘I am a man of my word,’ Raphael said, looking him straight in the eye. ‘Your men may rest easily here. We have no quarrel with you or them.’

‘Then I shall sup with you and we shall discuss the future. Your father and I crossed swords and quarrelled because we both wanted the same woman. In future, it would be best to set boundaries and take our share of the spoils,’ the baron declared.

‘I have no wish to prey on others. I came home to live in peace, sir. My father may have taken prisoners for ransom but it is not my way,’ Raphael replied, courteously but firmly.

‘Then we shall not argue over the spoils,’ Baron Sigmund said and laughed. ‘Yet I would warn you to watch your back. If others believe you to be weak, they will seek to take what is yours. In this world only the strongest survive.’

‘I am not ignorant of the world, sir. I know that ruthless men take what they please and care not for the pain they inflict. Yet
I
would warn
you
, and any others who may think me weak, that I protect what is mine—and that includes my women
and
my servants,’ Raphael said grimly.

Sigmund’s eyes narrowed, then he gave a harsh laugh. ‘You are no fool, Sir Raphael. I believe we shall deal well together.’

‘We shall take some wine together while supper is prepared,’ Raphael said. ‘Come, sir, we shall talk privately in my chamber.’

* * *

‘He has invited the baron to take supper with him?’ Rosamunde stared at the steward in dismay. ‘Does my lord not know of the man’s reputation?’

‘Baron Sigmund is a ruthless enemy and he rules much of the countryside around here. My lord must walk a tightrope, at least until the King returns to bring order and justice to England. Then perhaps the baron will be brought to heel—but until then we must tread
carefully. The baron did not come to fight this time, but it might be different another day,’ Mellors explained.

‘I think Sir Raphael risks being tainted by association,’ Rosamunde said snippily. ‘We shall prepare supper, as you ask, but pray tell my lord that I shall not sup with him this evening.’

‘I believe Lord Mornay intends to dine in private but I shall convey the message to him at a convenient time,’ Mellors replied respectfully.

Rosamunde inclined her head. She fetched a capon that had been plucked and cleansed earlier from the larder and threw it onto the board, taking up a small axe to chop it into quarters and toss it into a pan with butter, herbs and onions.

‘At least we are not being threatened by a siege this night,’ Elspeth said as she prepared some worts and added them to a mess of stew that had been simmering for the past hour or more. ‘Be careful, lady, or that pan will burn.’

‘It would serve them both right,’ Rosamunde said crossly as she tossed the chicken and moved it to a part of the grid where the flame was not as hot. A part of her was relieved that the tension of the evening had melted away and there would be no bloodshed, but she was disappointed that Raphael had invited a man like Baron Sigmund to dine in private with him. She had thought him different but now it seemed he was much like his father. Surely he would not join the lawless bands that became rich from preying on others less strong than themselves?

‘Y
ou should be wary of Sir Raphael, mistress,’ Maire said the following morning. They were alone in Rosamunde’s chamber for she had sent the other women to break their fast. ‘If he dines in private with a rogue such as Baron Sigmund, you should not trust him.’

‘We do not yet know his reasons,’ Rosamunde said, though Maire’s thoughts were not unlike her own. ‘Mayhap he would make a friend of the baron rather than bring an army upon us.’

‘I warn you for you own good, my lady,’ her maid said. ‘If you begin to like this man too much, he will break your heart. I have seen the signs before and I would not see you caught in his trap.’